Seismic acquisition involves collecting and analyzing data on subsurface geological features using various methods and equipment. Data is sourced from private, customer, and government databases. The software and mathematical models used to interpret data are valuable assets that require protection. Different techniques include firing energy blasts, analyzing natural events, mapping software, and numerical approaches. Interpreting data from multiple sources is crucial for discovering new oil fields or mineral deposits. Seismic acquisition is complex and time-consuming, with years passing before inclusion in reports.
Seismic acquisition is the practice of collecting and analyzing information regarding subsurface geological features and structures. Several methods and a wide variety of equipment are available for recording and analyzing signals and data. Most seismic acquisition companies use data from many sources, including private, customer, and government databases. The software and mathematical models that give meaning to data represent a huge corporate and national asset that requires maximum protection.
One method of collecting the data involves firing an energy blast at the Earth’s surface and recording the reflected energy waves. Geologists bang jackhammer-like devices on the ground, capturing the seismic waves reflected by special receivers placed at different points. Geologists also analyze data from natural events, such as earthquakes, to provide insight into large tracts.
Marine surveyors fire air guns on the seabed or on the bottoms of lakes. A huge bubble of air bounces off the bottom, transmitting energy through the ground. Receivers behind the ship or tucked under it capture the return signals. Air rifles can also be fired at high altitudes or small explosives can be dropped through shafts. The signals can be picked up by distant receivers or by small planes or helicopters.
In other techniques, mapping software collects data from satellites, boats, planes, and submarines to track changes in magnetic or gravitational fields. Patterns in plant life or water temperature can also reveal subsurface structures. Hydrocarbon emissions from submarine oil sources can leach to the surface and are detectable at great distances. Infrared and ultraviolet scans provide another source of data.
A numerical approach typically underpins the software that analyzes this abundance of data. The seismic acquisition area under study is divided into cubes. Energy and other property balances are calculated in and out of each adjacent cube in all directions. Advanced graphics software allows data visualization.
A three-dimensional model is developed, but is still subject to human judgment of what each signal change indicates. A break in a signal can indicate a fault, an edge in a submerged lake, or a denser layer of rock. Interpreting your data, using as many sources as possible, can be the difference between discovering a substantial new oil field or drilling dry wells. It is because of the complex analyzes required, as well as the difficulty in carrying out seismic acquisition of an area, that new oil sources or mineral deposits are continually announced. Years may elapse between seismic acquisition activities and their inclusion in reports.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
